CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Tigers jumped out to an early lead to secure a split with Johnson C. Smith, earning a 7-2 win after falling 11-3 in the season-opening game at Biddleville Park.
 
The Salem International softball team (1-1) ran out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game two. After the first two Tigers reached base in the first inning, junior Katie Chryssofos (Chapmanville, W.Va./Logan) drove in the first run with a RBI-double. Two batters later, Kayla Lynch (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) drove in a pair with a two-RBI single to give Salem International a 3-0 lead after one inning. Chryssofos later tacked on another run with a solo shot in the third inning to give the Tigers a 4-0 advantage.
 
After the Bulls (1-1) got on the scoreboard with a solo home run of their own, Salem International added two more in the fifth on a two-RBI single by freshman Alyssa Discepola (Rio Grande, N.J./Middle Township) in the fifth and a RBI-double by classmate Hannah Crew (Canton, Ohio/Perry) in the sixth.
 
Johnson C. Smith responded with a run in the sixth inning, but the Tigers would not allow the host to get any closer and held on for the 7-2 win.
 
Katie Holestin (Covington, Va./Alleghany) earned her first-career win, tossing a complete game, while allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
 
Chryssosfos led the Tigers at the plate with three hits, two runs scored, a home run and two RBI. Discepola paced her effort with two hits and two RBI.
 
Despite coming back from a 2-0 deficit, the Tigers could not hold off the Bulls and fell 11-3 in five innings in game one.
 
Johnson C. Smith opened the game with a 2-0 lead, but RBIs by Lynch, Chryssofos and Discepola put Salem International up 3-2 after two and a half innings.
 
The Bulls answered back with four runs in the third, three in the fourth and two in the sixth to earn a run-rule victory after six innings.
 
Discepola led the Tigers at the plate in the season-opener. Playing in her first-collegiate game, the New Jersey native tallied hits in each of her first three plate appearances and added one RBI. Chyssofos and sophomore Summer Clark (Akron, Ohio/Coventry) each had two hits, with Chryssofos adding an RBI in the loss.
 
Lynch (0-1) took the loss in the opener. She allowed six runs on four hits with three strikeouts.
 
Salem International is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 14 when they take on Shaw. The first-pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m.